Sheet processing device, sheet laminator, image forming apparatus, and image forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11261043-B2
Application number	US-202117307001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2021
Priority date	May 7, 2020
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A sheet processing device sandwiches a sheet-shaped medium in a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded. The sheet processing device includes a separator, a conveyor, and a switching member. The separator separates the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The conveyor is disposed downstream from the separator in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys the two-ply sheet. The switching member is disposed downstream from the conveyor in the sheet conveyance direction. The switching member switches a conveyance path of the two-ply sheet to convey the two-ply sheet to a fixing path on which fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet or a non-fixing path on which no fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sheet processing device configured to sandwich a sheet-shaped medium in a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded, the sheet processing device comprising:
a separator configured to separate the two sheets of the two-ply sheet;
a conveyor disposed downstream from the separator in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to convey the two-ply sheet; and
a switching member disposed downstream from the conveyor in the sheet conveyance direction and configured to switch a conveyance path of the two-ply sheet to convey the two-ply sheet to a fixing path on which fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet or a non-fixing path on which no fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet.

2. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising circuitry configured to perform:
a laminate processing mode in which the sheet-shaped medium is sandwiched between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet, the two-ply sheet is conveyed to the fixing path, and laminate processing is performed on the two-ply sheet; and
a sheet-shaped medium insertion mode in which the sheet-shaped medium is sandwiched between the two sheets and the two-ply sheet is conveyed to the non-fixing path and ejected.

3. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising an operation panel configured to select whether to convey the two-ply sheet to the fixing path or the non-fixing path.

4. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixing device disposed on the fixing path;
a detector configured to detect an abnormality in the fixing device; and
circuitry configured to control processing of the two-ply sheet according to a detection result of the abnormality.

5. The sheet processing device according to claim 4 ,
wherein when the detector detects the abnormality in the fixing device disposed on the fixing path, the circuitry is configured to cause the conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet to the non-fixing path.

6. The sheet processing device according to claim 4 ,
wherein when the detector detects the abnormality in the fixing device disposed on the fixing path, the circuitry is configured to cause the conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet to the non-fixing path with the sheet-shaped medium inserted in the two-ply sheet.

7. The sheet processing device according to claim 4 ,
wherein when the detector detects the abnormality in the fixing device disposed on the fixing path, the circuitry is configured to cause the conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet and the sheet-shaped medium separately to the non-fixing path.

8. A sheet laminator comprising:
the sheet processing device according to claim 1 ; and
a heat-pressing member configured to heat and press the two-ply sheet.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing device according to claim 1 .

10. An image forming system comprising the image forming apparatus according to claim 9 .

Assignees

• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suzuki Yoshito
• Furuhashi Tomohiro
• Takahashi Wataru
• Asano Sho
• Monma Shinya
• Akiyama Joji
• Nozaki Wataru
• HARAGUCHI Yohsuke
• Suzuki Yuji
• Shibasaki Yuusuke
• Morinaga Takuya

Classifications

• B32B2037/0061

  the apparatus being an office laminator · CPC title

• B32B37/142

  Laminating of sheets, panels or inserts, e.g. stiffeners, by wrapping in at least one outer layer, or inserting into a preformed pocket · CPC title

• B32B37/0053

  Constructional details of laminating machines comprising rollers; Constructional features of the rollers · CPC title

• B65H2801/27

  Devices located downstream of office-type machines · CPC title

• B32B43/006

  Delaminating · CPC title